It would be a lie to say anyone expected this but Arsenal are planning for one of the most important transfer windows in their recent history. The Gunners have done excellent work in the transfer market recently, overhauling Mikel Arteta's ageing squad and replacing it with a mixture of youthful talents like Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale as well as experienced champions like Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
These moves have got them into a position where they are top of the Premier League. Now though Edu and the Kroenkes want to push on.
The Gunners are in the midst of a long-term project but are aware that this is a huge opportunity for them to claim a first league title since 2004. With that in mind football.london takes a look at who could be joining and leaving the Emirates Stadium in January.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta close to dream Arsenal scenario as Mykhaylo Mudryk transfer takes next step
Incomings
Of course the name on everyone's lips right now is Mykhaylo Mudryk. Arsenal have a long-standing interest in the Ukrainian and are keen to bolster their forward line. The Ukrainian ticks the box of being versatile enough to play on either flank and at 21 years old he fits into the demographic of player that have been targeted at the Emirates in recent years.
football.london understands that the Gunners submitted a first official bid for Mudryk earlier this week in the region of £55million including add ons. That bid was rejected, but Arsenal could well return, while the player's public desire to make the move happen could force things along. Shakhtar Donetsk have publicly stated that they want a fee in the region of what was paid for Antony or Jack Grealish though which means there is still work to do.
There are of course other targets in that position. Facundo Torres is among the names linked. Joao Felix has also been mentioned, but if Arsenal sign Mudryk it's hard to see them going for the Portuguese international even if it's a loan move as things stand. The club are hopeful that Gabriel Jesus will be back in the next couple of months and are therefore unlikely to sign an out and out number nine, particularly after offering Eddie Nketiah a contract extension just this summer.
Midfield is a position where they could look to strengthen, with Youri Tielemans still being linked. However, if Arsenal wait till the summer they may be able to get the Belgian for free and with Mohamed Elneny back from injury and Emile Smith Rowe not far behind they seem well stocked in that position at the moment. Another player to have been linked is Sergei Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian has just 18 months remaining on his contract, but it would surely take a big offer to convince Lazio to sell.
Arsenal have also been linked with a centre back. Mikel Arteta is fond of left footed centre backs on the left side of his defence and after the departure of Pablo Mari they could look to bring one in. Evan Ndicka has been linked, but he is another who will be available on a free in the summer so the issue may be revisited then.
Outgoings
With several players out on loan the Emirates Stadium outgoing lounge will probably be bigger in the summer when the futures of players like Nicolas Pepe, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Nuno Tavares are decided. For now though it doesn't seem as though too many will be on their way out.
One player who could leave is Cedric. football.london understands the Portuguese defender has held talks with Fulham and Bayer Leverkusen over a move, while Villarreal are also interested. Arteta has stated that Arsenal will be cautious over who they let go though, with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Alex Zinchenko both having struggled with injuries for much of this season in the full back department.
It's worth keeping an eye on whether some of the younger Arsenal talents head out on loan. It's difficult to see Marquinhos getting too many opportunities if Mudryk arrives, but as things stand he's needed to contribute to the first team where he is likely to be on the bench for the next few games in the absence of Smith Rowe, Jesus and Reiss Nelson.
Karl Hein is also unlikely to get many chances after Arsenal were knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the third round by Brighton. However, given that the Gunners kept Arthur Okonkwo around for the second half of last season as their third choice goalie, it wouldn't be too strange to see Hein stay.
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